Family & Children’s Association holds ‘SNUG Day Community BBQ’ against gun violence
A day of music, food and fun brought a Long Island community together to combat gun violence.
Family & Children’s Association’s (FCA) first annual SNUG Day Community Barbecue was held at Kennedy Memorial Park in Hempstead Village on Saturday, August 10, featuring a DJ, bouncy house, ice cream truck, and barbecue.
SNUG, which stands for “Should Never Use Guns,” is an evidence-based violence reduction initiative that supports kids and young adults who are at high risk for violent behavior by working in tandem with residents, businesses, and community-based organizations.
“SNUG offers an alternative to violent behavior by working on the root causes of these actions and modeling alternative behaviors through credible messengers who work side by side with community members who are seeking another way of life,” says FCA’s Nicolle Vasselman, vice president and chief program officer at the nonprofit.
The program offers a range of services designed to support high-risk individuals and promote community safety, including conflict mediation and crisis intervention, community outreach, educational and employment assessment, and connection to a network of resources.
SNUG’s services are free to individuals aged 12+ involved in high-risk activities, residents of the Village of Hempstead, and those with current or former gang involvement or a gun-related criminal history.
The event follows a recent advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General calling gun violence a threat to public health. According to New York State’s Division of Criminal Justice Services, Hempstead Village police reported 22 shooting victims and one fatality last year. Nassau County police recorded 22 victims and four fatalities, while Suffolk County police reported 47 victims and 11 fatalities in 2023.
The advisory, which has drawn support from local health and law enforcement officials, called for regulations limiting access to guns, money to research firearm injuries, and a greater investment in risk reduction through programs such as SNUG.
For more information about how you can support FCA programs, visit www.fcali.org.
